Child and Youth Worker

Alex House, as a neighbourhood house, takes an assets-based approach to working in community, understanding the potential of each individual to contribute to the wellness of our shared community, regardless of what brings them through our doors for the very first time. Alex House is deeply committed to decolonizing our approach, looking at all of our work through a decolonizing lens.

We are seeking a mindful, passionate, and collaborative **Child & Youth Worker** to join our Team for the summer. Alex House values reciprocity, honoring the skills, strengths and beings that people are. In this role, you will have opportunity to share your unique strengths, knowledge, skills and grow in areas like, collaboration, communication to name a few, working on creative and innovative projects and programs. In your time with us, this summer, we will provide job specific training, support, skill development, and overall career development.

Accountability:
The Child and Youth Worker (CYW) will work alongside diverse youth mentors to plan and facilitate summer programming at Youth Space in White Rock, South Surrey emphasis on Creating Connections and Youth Drop-in programs that operate Monday to Friday. The Youth Space provides a safe, sober, and inclusive space for diverse youth ages 10-19 to co-create, connect, and innovate youth-led activities and projects. The activities are carefully curated to foster resilience, teaching youth to adapt and bounce back from setbacks. Youth Space provides opportunities for leadership roles within games and activities, nurturing youth to gain a sense of responsibility and ownership and positively impact their communities. The Youth Space aims to empower vulnerable youth by reducing isolation, supporting emotional, mental, and physical wellness, while building healthy community connections and stewardship.

Creating Connections is designed to assist children (9-12yrs old) in developing and expanding their social skills and emotional management skills in ways that will help them succeed at integrating into their community. Children in this program often struggle with social isolation, school disconnection, bullying and stigma; anxiety or mental health issues; or are engaged in high-risk activities such as substance use, gangs, grooming, recruitment, and exploitation. Through games and activities, children will be engaged in social emotional learning and community engagement activities with an emphasis on building resilience, leadership, empowerment, and creating a sense of belonging. The CYW will assist the Youth Space Coordinator in planning and implementing a series of anti-violence education summer workshops, arts-based activities led by older youth, community engagement events in Bakerview Park to include experiential learning field-trips.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Adhere to the values of the Youth Space - safe, sober, and inclusive, and encourage harm reduction practices while using an anti-violence and anti-oppression approach
- Establish and maintain a safe and nurturing environment for program participants that respects the diversity of the group and the individual needs of participants
- Work as part of a team and collaborate with youth to develop and implement a series of anti-violence education summer workshops, arts-based activities, community engagement events in Bakerview Park gardening, entrepreneurship skills, and experiential learning field-trip
- Assist youth participants to be engaged in social emotional learning and community engagement activities with an emphasis on building resilience, leadership, empowerment, and creating a sense of belonging
- Assist in day-to-day marketing and promotion of activities, including social media platforms.
- Support team with administrative tasks, including acquiring program materials, tracking weekly program statistics, compiling narrative reports, and accurate records of program expenses.

**Qualifications**:

- Demonstrated experience working with children and youth and knowledge of implementing programs and community events
- Clear criminal record check
- Standard First Aid/CPR certificate or willingness to obtain
- Fluency in a second language an asset

We thank and acknowledge all applicants, and will proactively contact those selected for interviews.

**No phone calls please.**

Pay: $19.62-$20.11 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Schedule:

- Evening shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed

Licence/Certification:

- First Aid Certification (preferred)

Work Location: In person